While We Wait.

Summary: Their conversation has never been of the easiest. Now it may be all they have left.

"Oh my God, I just keep thinking – oh my God. So this is it. This is how I'm going to die. Here. Like this. Which is stupid, because it's not helping anything, and anyway there's no reason to imagine we're definitely gonna die here. I mean, we've gotten out of worse. It's not as though Jim Kirk is exactly the type to leave crewmembers stranded, if he has any choice about it. There's every chance we could be out of here in an hour."
"I would estimate our chances of survival at approximately fourteen point seven percent."

Pause.

"Thanks."

"You are welcome."
"I was being sarcastic"
Pause.

"I do not understand."

Sigh.

"Look. When a human is stuck in a situation he or she is very probably not gonna be getting out of, a human doesn't always want to hear the exact grim probability of imminent death. Okay?"
Pause.

"Of all the irrational fears of humankind, I believe the fear of death to be one of the most irrational."
"Oh yeah?"
"Indeed. One of your own Terran philosophers phrased it aptly. There is little to be done to prevent one's death until the moment of it's actuation. After which, there is no purpose in worrying."

"Well, pity we don't all possess those perfect mental disciplines of yours, Spock. It might make this go a lot easier."
"Undoubtedly."

Time passes

"You know what's dumb?"
"Elaborate."
"I would feel so much better if I could see you right now."
"The absence of light is something of an…inconvenience."
"I was thinking more downright scary."
"Are you not a psychologist, doctor? Can you not recognize this reaction as a primitive fear-threat response to the unknown?"
"Of course I can."
"And considering that we are trapped in here, it is only logical to surmise the vast majority of threatening lifeforms to be trapped out."

"God help me, but that actually made me feel a little better. We should talk more."
"We are using air."

"Air well spent."
"Irrational."
"Humour me."
"Very well. What do you wish to converse about?"

Long pause.

"What did Sarek say when you told him you were joining Starfleet?"
"I beg your pardon?"

"I always wanted to know."
"And you ask such a question now?"
"It's something we fallible humans do. At times like this."

Pause. "Sarek is a Vulcan. He accepts what is."
"Figures."

Time passes.

"….So then I got a hamster for my next birthday, cos my mother figured there was no way that could run away. She was wrong. Funny I was never any good at keeping animals safe and well. That's probably why I went into medicine – some kind of repressed-inferiority thing. Did you ever have pets as a kid?"
"You are already aware I owned a selat."
"Damn, I was hoping you'd forgotten. What was its name? Oh wait, I bet Vulcan children don't name their pets. Too sentimental, right?"

Pause.

"Her name was I-Chaya."

"What does that mean?"
"I don't believe there is an appropriate translation."
"O-kay…."

"I do not intend to be intransigent, doctor. Names mean rather more in my culture than they do in yours."
"Sure. I understand."
Pause.

"Hey Spock, do you think there's any way…you could sort of – contact the captain? Mentally, I mean. You've mind-melded several times…"
"I am a touch-telepath only doctor. You know this."
"Yeah, I just thought…never mind. Act of desperation."
Pause.

"I assure you I can think of no solution to our current predicament. If I could I would attempt it."
"Alright, sorry, I don't mean I consider you responsible or anything. Hey – you don't think this is your fault, do you? I'm just as much to blame…"

Long pause.

"To assign blame….would presently be illogical."
"For once, we're in total agreement."
Pause.

"So I guess I was wrong about getting out of here in an hour, right?"
"It has certainly been longer than that."
"Of course I have total faith in Jim. He'll go right to HQ if necessary."
"I believe the captain will do everything within his power to rescue us."

Time Passes.

"Oh my God, I'm so thirsty."
"I am also beginning to experience the symptoms associated with dehydration."
"Reminds me of the time my cousin and I got lost in the swamp back in Georgia. Jack was six. Couldn't have been more than nine or ten years old myself. All that water – and we couldn't drink squat. Had a hell of time trying to stop him…"

"I associate the sensation with the vigil at Vulcan's Forge."
"Seriously? You've done that?"
"I would not be an adult had I not achieved the desert crossing and vigil at the sacred place."
"Sounds like hell."
"It is a sacred ritual."
"Sorry. Didn't mean to insult your culture or anything."
"Understandable."

Time passes.

"The crossing of Vulcan's Forge in fact bears more semblances to your Terran myths of Purgatory."

"What?"
"I have been considering your earlier comparison."
"I've been considering water. And how much air we have left."
"Without a chronometer or accurate impression of space it is difficult to estimate."
"Do you think we're gonna die here?"
"I have already given you the odds."
"Yeah but do you think we're going to?"

Pause.

"I prefer not to speculate."

"You want to check the walls again? In case we missed a crack, an updraft, anything?"
"We have already-"
"I know. But it might help. It might help me, at least."
"As you wish, doctor."

Time passes.

"I…admire you."
"Doctor. Further speech is really…not advisable."
"Shut up I'm gonna say this. I know…we've had our differences. I won't pretend…we understand eachother. But…I do think…you are a great first officer…and a very good person."
"Once again you….insist on applying your race's…moral values to…to other….."

"Spock!"
"…yes…."
"Hey, you stay with me!"

"I am here. If….we are to speak again….I would say….that in many ways I admire you."
Pause.

"Always thought so."
Hoarse laughter.

"Well….I'm glad we covered that…before….the end."
"To give up all hope….is illogical."
"Yeah….always a chance, right Spock?"
"Fourteen point seven percent."

Finis.